SECTION II
THE COURTS
The courts oversee and administer the law. In order to maintain a peaceful and productive
society, our courts strive to protect individual rights, punish and deter criminal offenses and
resolve civil disputes by applying the law in a fair and impartial manner.
Ohio is served by separate state and federal court systems, both of which are organized into
trial courts, intermediate courts of appeals and a Supreme Court. State courts deal primarily
with cases arising under state law, and federal courts deal primarily with cases arising under
federal law.
Ohio Trial Courts
In Ohio, most cases begin and are resolved in trial courts, which are the workhorses of the
state’s judicial system. Ohio has several levels of trial courts, and each level has two types of
jurisdiction (power or authority). The first is territorial jurisdiction. Simply stated, that means
the geographical territory over which the court has power. The second type of jurisdiction is
subject-matter jurisdiction, which refers to the kinds of cases a court is authorized to hear and
decide. Ohio trial courts include:
• common pleas courts - have countywide geographic jurisdiction and authority to
decide all levels of civil and criminal cases;
• municipal and county courts - have more limited geographic jurisdiction than
common pleas courts, and authority to decide only less serious civil and criminal
cases;
• mayors’ courts - do not have civil jurisdiction, and have only limited authority to hear
minor criminal matters that occur within a city or village;
• Ohio Court of Claims - handles only suits against the State of Ohio and claims for
state compensation filed by crime victims.
Web link: Ohio Judicial Conference, with links to Ohio courts: http://www.state.oh.us/ojc/
Common Pleas Courts
The common pleas court is the most important of Ohio’s trial courts. It is Ohio’s court of
general jurisdiction, which means that it has authority to hear almost any civil or criminal matter,
and that most serious civil or criminal cases MUST be heard in common pleas court. Each of the
state’s 88 counties has a common pleas court. In a few small counties, a single judge handles all
of the court’s judicial duties. In large counties, the common pleas court may be staffed by more
than a dozen judges, and divided into several specialized divisions, as detailed below. Like all
Ohio trial, appellate and Supreme Court judges, common pleas court judges are elected. To
qualify for election, candidates must be licensed attorneys with at least six years’ experience.
Once elected, they serve six-year terms.
7
General Division
The general division of each county’s common pleas court has authority to hear all types of
criminal cases and has exclusive jurisdiction over felonies, which are serious crimes that carry a
potential penalty of from six months or more in a state prison to a penalty of death for aggravated
murder. In civil matters, the common pleas court has exclusive jurisdiction in lawsuits seeking
certain extraordinary remedies, such as injunctions and restraining orders. When money damages
are sought, only common pleas courts may hear cases claiming more than $15,000 while civil
cases seeking lesser amounts may also be heard in municipal or county court. In counties without
county courts, the minimum amount that can be sought in common pleas court is $500.
The common pleas court has no authority to hear appeals from lower trial courts, but it can
hear appeals from administrative rulings made by government agencies. In lesser civil and
criminal cases, the common pleas court shares the power to handle certain matters with other
trial courts; that is, it has concurrent jurisdiction with municipal and county courts.
Probate/Domestic Relations/Juvenile Divisions
In addition to its general division, the common pleas court in most Ohio counties also has one
or more specialized divisions that handle probate, domestic relations and juvenile matters.
• The probate division handles wills, estates, adoptions, guardianships and issues marriage
licenses. It also supervises the activities and accounts of people in positions of trust
(called fiduciaries), such as guardians, trustees and executors or administrators of estates.
[For additional information, see Section VIII of this Handbook: “Probate Law.”]
• The domestic relations division deals with divorce, marriage dissolution, annulment,
legal separation, spousal support, parental rights, child support, parenting time, visitation
and companionship. [For additional information, see Section IX of this Handbook:
“Family Law.”]
• The juvenile division has jurisdiction over delinquent, unruly, or neglected children;
juvenile traffic offenders; and adults who neglect, abuse, or contribute to the delinquency
of children. When a juvenile (any person under age 18) is accused of an offense, whether
serious or minor, the juvenile division has exclusive jurisdiction over the case. A juvenile
may be considered delinquent if he or she is accused of committing an act that would be a
crime if committed by an adult. Other types of juvenile behavior may bring a minor into
juvenile court, even though that behavior engaged in by an adult would be socially
acceptable or, at least, non-criminal. Truancy, running away, unruly behavior and similar
acts constitute these status offenses.
When a juvenile is accused of a particularly serious crime, he or she may be
transferred from the juvenile division to an adult court for trial and sentencing. Once the
child is transferred, the juvenile division no longer has jurisdiction over the case. Except
in cases involving murder or aggravated murder, the juvenile court may not relinquish
jurisdiction unless the minor is at least 15 years old. The court must have reason to
believe the child is not amenable to care or rehabilitation in a juvenile facility and that the
safety of the community may require the child to be placed under legal restraint
extending beyond the age of majority.
8
To protect juveniles from adverse publicity, the juvenile court may order the proceedings
closed to the public. Therefore, reporting juvenile proceedings may pose special ethical and
practical problems for journalists.
In addition to the criminal and status offense jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the juvenile
court also has jurisdiction over parentage issues. If a person or state agency wishes to determine
if a person is the biological father of a child, that action is brought through the juvenile court.
Therefore, juvenile courts often get involved in the same custody, visitation and child support
matters as do domestic relations courts. [For additional information, see Section IX of this
Handbook: “Family Law.”]
Municipal and County Courts
Municipal and county courts are authorized by the Ohio Constitution and established by
statute. Depending on the geographic jurisdiction specified by the legislature, a municipal court
may serve a single city or an entire county. The territories served by county courts include only
those areas within a county that are not covered by a municipal court. (In counties where the
municipal court has countywide jurisdiction, there is no county court.) To qualify for election,
municipal court judge candidates must be attorneys with at least six years’ experience and county
court judge candidates must be licensed attorneys with at least two years’ experience. Once
elected, both serve six-year terms.
Jurisdiction
The types of cases heard by municipal and county courts are similar, although there are some
important differences. Municipal courts have jurisdiction in civil cases not exceeding $15,000,
while county courts have jurisdiction in cases not exceeding $500.
Both municipal and county courts are authorized to hear special types of lawsuits, such as
landlord-renter disputes, collection cases and real estate evictions. Both courts can try
misdemeanor criminal cases (moving traffic violations and other charges classified as minor
offenses under state law) and both courts can hold preliminary hearings in felony cases to
determine if there is probable cause to believe a felony was committed. If probable cause is
found, the accused is bound over to the common pleas court for trial, since neither a municipal
nor county court can try a felony case.
Small claims and mediation
Every municipal and county court maintains a small claims division that hears claims for
money only (not exceeding $3,000). Although an individual going to small claims court may
employ a lawyer, the procedure is informal and designed to resolve disputes without requiring
the parties to be represented by attorneys. However, a corporation is viewed by the courts as a
separate and distinct entity and must be represented by counsel.
In many communities, courts now provide mediation services to help plaintiffs and
defendants resolve their differences before the case actually goes before a judge or referee in
small claims court.
Web link: Small Claims Courts: http://law.freeadvice.com/small_claims/
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Mayors’ Courts
Mayors’ courts are the trial courts with the most limited authority. They can hear only minor,
non-jury cases involving violations of municipal ordinances or moving traffic violations under
state law. Each mayor has the option to hold court and serve as presiding judge in these minor
cases even if he or she is not an attorney, or the mayor may appoint a magistrate, who must be an
attorney, to hear the case.
Mayors’ courts generally hear cases involving violations of municipal ordinances, covering such
issues as animal control, city income tax, zoning, building codes, vendors and public safety. They may
also hear cases involving moving traffic violations on state highways within the municipality.
Although the proceedings are quite informal, mayors’ courts are required to observe basic
procedures to protect the rights of defendants. A mayor’s court, however, is not a court of record.
No recording of proceedings is required. The mayor may not order a person imprisoned for
violation of a city ordinance unless that person waives, in writing, his or her right to a jury trial
and consents to be tried by the mayor. Powers of mayors’ courts are becoming more limited
through a series of rulings by the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Court of Claims
The court of claims is a special court located in Columbus that hears tort and contract claims
against state agencies and victim of crime claims. The latter are claims filed on behalf of Ohio
citizens who suffer injury as a result of crimes committed against them anywhere, and claims on
behalf of non-residents who suffer injury as a result of crimes committed against them in Ohio.
OHIO’S TRIAL COURTS
Court
(Divisions)
COMMON PLEAS COURT
Territorial
Jurisdiction
Countywide
General Division
Countywide
Probate Division
Countywide
Juvenile Division
Countywide
Domestic Rels. Division
Countywide
MUNCIPAL COURT
Small Claims Division
Defined by statute; may
be corp. limits of city or
countywide
Same as muni court
Civil Case
Jurisidiction
Any amount >$500; has
exclusive authority to
hear cases over $15,000
Any amount >$500; has
exclusive authority to
hear cases over $15,000
Criminal Case
Jurisdiction
Misdemeanors or felonies;
has exclusive authority
to hear felony cases
Misdemeanors or felonies;
has exclusive authority
to hear felony cases
Typical Cases Handled
Felony criminal cases and civil lawsuits w/claimed
damages of $15,000 or more
Wills and estates, adoptions, guardianships;
oversees executors, trustees and guardians;
issues marriage licenses
Hears all cases involving
Charges against delinquent & unruly children;
juvenile offenders (under age juvenile traffic offenders; cases against adults for
18)
child abuse, neglect, abandonment
Divorce; dissolution of marriage; child & spousal
support; parental rights & visitation
Limited to lower-level civil
suits (damages under
$15,000)
Limited to minor civil
disputes under $3,000
Can try only misdemeanor
cases, but may hold prelim
hearings in felony cases
No criminal jurisdiction
Minor moving traffic violations and other
misdemeanors; civil suits w/claimed damages
under $15,000
Minor civil suits w/claimed damages under $3,000
(cases usually heard informally by magistrates;
parties represent themselves)
COUNTY COURT
Limited to areas within Limited to civil suits
a county NOT served under $500
by a muni court
Can try only misdemeanor
cases, but may hold prelim
hearings in felony cases
Lower-level civil, traffic and criminal cases that
arise in unincorporated areas of a county
MAYOR'S COURT
Limited to incorporated No civil jurisdiction
area of city or village
Can hear only minor traffic
cases and violations of city
ordinances
Traffic offenses and local zoning; animal
control; vendor, building code violations
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Ohio Court of Appeals
The goal of every judicial system is that trials be fair and equitable and that trial judges
interpret the law and apply the rules correctly in every case. However, no system is perfect and
trial courts sometimes make mistakes. The Court of Appeals was established to review claims of
error by the trial courts and, when significant errors are found, to correct those mistakes. Ohio
has two levels of appellate courts: the Ohio Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Ohio.
District Courts of Appeals
Ohio’s intermediate appeals court is divided into 12 geographic districts ranging in size from
a single county to more than a dozen counties. The territorial jurisdictions of the 12 court of
appeals districts are set and periodically reviewed by the Ohio General Assembly. The number of
judges in each district varies based on population and caseloads. To qualify for election, court of
appeals judges must be licensed attorneys with at least six years’ experience. Once elected, they
serve six-year terms.
Appellate jurisdiction
The most important duty of Ohio’s courts of appeals is to hear appeals from decisions of the
common pleas courts, municipal courts and county courts located within their respective
districts. Every defendant in a criminal case and each party in a civil case decided in an Ohio
trial court has the right to appeal his or her case to this intermediate level appellate court. Only a
final judgment or order of a court can be appealed, and appeals generally must be on questions of
law and not the facts of a case.
Other than in very rare cases [see “Original jurisdiction,” below], appellate judges do not
hear new testimony, receive evidence or examine exhibits. A three-judge panel is assigned to
review detailed written briefs submitted by both the party claiming errors by the trial court (the
appellant) and the party seeking to sustain the lower court’s action (the appellee). Appellate
judges also examine transcripts from the trial court’s hearings and listen to oral arguments from
the two sides to determine if proper procedure was followed and the law was correctly
interpreted and applied by the trial court.
After reviewing the trial court’s decision and the parties’ briefs and oral arguments, the threejudge panel votes to take one of several actions:
• affirm the lower court’s ruling;
• overturn the lower court’s ruling;
• send the case back to the trial court for additional proceedings; or
• modify the lower court’s decision.
In some instances the appeals court judges may agree that mistakes were made by the trial
court, but choose to uphold the initial decision because the errors weren’t severe enough to affect
the rights of (or create prejudicial error for) those who lost in the lower court.
If the appellate panel finds mistakes that substantially affect a party’s rights, they constitute
prejudicial error, and the court of appeals may then take whatever action is necessary to bring
about justice. A court of appeals may reverse the trial court’s decision and give final judgment to
the party who should have had it in the first place. It might reverse and send the case back for a
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whole new trial, or it might simply send the case back for whatever further proceedings are
needed. It can also modify the trial court’s judgment or order in any way.
Original jurisdiction
Under Ohio law, certain unusual types of cases cannot be brought before a trial court, but
must begin in a district court of appeals or the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Among these are cases seeking what are known as extraordinary writs. These writs include:
• quo warranto, which challenges a person’s title to a public office;
• mandamus, which asks the court to compel government officials to perform their duty;
• prohibition, which seeks to prevent a lower court from proceeding with a particular
case or action; and
• procedendo, which seeks to compel a lower court to proceed with a particular case or
action.
Another special writ, habeas corpus, tests the legality of imprisonment and may be initiated
in the court of appeals, the Supreme Court of Ohio, or a common pleas court.
An example of a case seeking an extraordinary writ would be the case of a Workers’
Compensation claimant who was denied a claim for workplace injuries by the Industrial
Commission. If the claimant believes state law required the Commission to honor the claim
based upon the facts of the case, the claimant could file a writ of mandamus in a court of appeals,
asking that the Commission be ordered to perform its duty and change its decision to match the
demands of state law.
Web link: Appellate Courts: http://www.hg.org/litg.html
Supreme Court of Ohio
The Supreme Court of Ohio is the highest and most powerful court in Ohio. It is primarily a
court of appeals and is Ohio’s court of last resort. In addition to its appellate role, the Supreme
Court also has original jurisdiction in the same types of extraordinary cases as the courts of
appeals. [See above.] Additionally, the Supreme Court has certain administrative duties such as
prescribing rules of procedure, monitoring and supervising the operation of all state courts, and
controlling the practice of law within the state. The Supreme Court consists of six associate
justices elected statewide for six-year terms and a chief justice who is also elected for a like term.
The chief justice acts as any other justice, but has additional administrative duties prescribed
by law.
Web link: Supreme Court of Ohio: http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/
Appellate and original jurisdiction
The Supreme Court of Ohio reviews decisions of the state’s 12 district courts of appeals and
some state administrative agencies and boards. Parties who are not satisfied with the decision of
an appellate court may appeal for a review of the case by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Unlike the
intermediate level courts of appeals, however, the Supreme Court of Ohio accepts and hears only
a small fraction of the cases requesting review.
The court may, at its discretion, take a case that presents a unique issue of statutory or
common law or a case that presents a substantial constitutional question. It also may choose not
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to take a case if it feels that the law is clear on a particular point or that it does not need further
interpretation. Further, it may decide that a constitutional question is non-existent or so
insignificant that it does not need further legal discussion.
The Supreme Court of Ohio also will take a case that is certified to the court by a lower
appellate court. Cases are certified if two or more courts of appeals in Ohio have decided a
similar legal issue differently, or if two or more courts of appeals have interpreted the same
statute differently. The Supreme Court is the ultimate decider of such issues.
If the Supreme Court does decide to hear a case, legal briefs are filed by the appellant and
appellee. Sometimes transcripts from lower courts are filed. These documents are available for
public inspection at the Supreme Court’s clerk’s office in Columbus.
After the written arguments of law are presented, the Supreme Court schedules and hears oral
arguments, normally in Columbus. As in oral argument at the district courts of appeals, the
attorneys for the parties appear before the court to present and defend their positions. The seven
justices sit as a panel and often question the attorneys on points of law or procedure.
The Supreme Court does not issue its rulings on the day of oral argument. Instead, the justices
meet privately to discuss the case.
After the private meeting, they vote on the outcome with agreement by a simple majority
(four of the seven justices) necessary to decide the case. A formal written opinion explaining the
court’s decision is then prepared by one of the justices who voted in the majority. Another justice
may write a concurring opinion agreeing with the outcome but for different reasons. Sometimes
a dissenting opinion is written. Even if there is a dissenting opinion, the majority opinion
prevails. On the day it is announced, the full text of every Supreme Court decision is made
available to the media and the public through the Court’s Office of Public Information.
When a legal or procedural issue has been addressed in a majority opinion of the Supreme
Court of Ohio, that interpretation must be followed by all appellate and trial courts within the
state system in deciding future cases.
If a party is not satisfied with the decision of the Supreme Court of Ohio, an attempt can be
made to appeal the case to the federal court system. However, federal courts are not required to
accept such cases, and generally defer to state Supreme Court decisions unless a compelling case
can be made that the ruling in question conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or federal statutes.
Prescribing rules of procedure
The Supreme Court of Ohio has authority under the state constitution to adopt rules governing
practice and procedure in all Ohio courts and to oversee the operations of all state courts. The
Supreme Court has adopted complete sets of rules for civil, criminal, appellate, juvenile and
traffic court procedures, as well as rules for the admission of evidence in all state courts. Those
rules, which are binding on all state courts and judges, can be accessed through the Supreme
Court’s Web site.
Supervision of the courts
The Supreme Court has the additional duty of overseeing the activities of all courts in the
state to make certain that justice is being administered fairly, effectively, and efficiently. The
Supreme Court has published rules of superintendence and has established various committees
and study groups to ensure the efficient operation of all Ohio courts. Judges of trial courts and
intermediate appellate courts across the state are required to file regular reports with the Supreme
Court on such matters as case loads and case flow statistical data.
13
Supervision of the practice of law
The state constitution also gives the Supreme Court of Ohio authority to adopt and enforce
rules for admission to the practice of law in Ohio and rules of ethical conduct for lawyers and
judges. The court also disciplines lawyers and judges who do not comply with those rules. [For
more detailed information, see Section VI of this Handbook: “Lawyers.”]
The Federal Courts
The federal court structure is similar to Ohio’s state court structure, with trial courts,
intermediate courts of appeals and a Supreme Court. The federal courts are primarily concerned
with administering the federal law, and they function independently of state courts. [Contact
information for each of the federal trial and appellate courts serving Ohio is provided in the
chart at the end of this chapter.]
Web links: U.S. Judicial Administration: http://www.hg.org/judge.html
Federal Judicial Web site: http://www.uscourts.gov
District Courts
The trial courts in the federal system are the U.S. District Courts. The district courts are courts
of general jurisdiction and correspond to Ohio’s common pleas courts, meaning they handle all
types of criminal cases (felonies as well as misdemeanors) that arise under federal statutes, as
well as many kinds of civil cases. For example, district courts handle:
• cases governed solely by federal law (bankruptcies; patents and copyrights; and
admiralty—the branch of law that governs shipping and navigation on the oceans, seas
and navigable inland waterways);
• cases under the U.S. Constitution or federal statutes (cases involving interstate
commerce, claims by one state against another, civil rights or antitrust claims); and
• diversity cases (claims by a citizen of one state against a citizen of another state where
the amount of the claim is $75,000 or more). An example of a diversity case would be a
claim by an Ohio resident against a Kentucky resident for injuries sustained in an auto
accident that occurred in Ohio. If the amount involved was $75,000 or more, this case
could be heard in a federal district court located in Ohio. Because the federal system does
not have a common law of its own, the law of Ohio would be applied in such a case.
• Bankruptcy cases require an additional explanation. District courts have the power to
handle bankruptcy cases, but have referred them in the past to bankruptcy courts.
Technically, the bankruptcy court is part of the district court, although it operates as an
independent court and handles almost all aspects of bankruptcy cases. [For more
information on bankruptcy courts, see Section VI: “Business Organizations, Contracts
and Bankruptcy.”]
Ohio is served by two federal district courts: the U.S. District Court for the Northern District
of Ohio and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The Northern District has a
western division, based in Toledo, and an eastern division, based in Cleveland, with separate
courts in Akron and Youngstown. The Southern District has a western division, based in
14
Cincinnati, with a separate court in Dayton, and an eastern division, based in Columbus. There is
a bankruptcy court for the Northern District, as well as the Southern District. There are
bankruptcy court offices and courtrooms in Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Toledo, Youngstown,
Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton.
Judges of the U.S. District Court are appointed for a life term by the president of the United
States, with confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Judges of the Bankruptcy Court are appointed for
14-year terms by the judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the circuit where the district court is
located.
U.S. Court of Appeals
The U.S. Court of Appeals is an intermediate court of appeals. The U.S. Court of Appeals
hears appeals from the district courts and its decisions may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme
Court. It corresponds to Ohio’s Court of Appeals and functions in much the same manner.
The United States and its territories are divided into 13 circuits, with a court of appeals for
each circuit. Ohio is in the Sixth Circuit, along with Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee. The
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is based in Cincinnati. The president of the United
States, with confirmation by the U.S. Senate, appoints all judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals
for life terms.
Web Link: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit: http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/
The Supreme Court of the United States
Just as the Supreme Court of Ohio is the highest court in the state, the U.S. Supreme Court is
the highest court in the nation and the court of last resort. It consists of the chief justice and eight
associate justices, who are appointed for life terms by the president of the United States with
confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
The U.S. Supreme Court is the ultimate authority on many of the nation’s most important
issues. Over the years, those decisions have desegregated our nation’s public schools, compelled
a president to produce evidence in a pending criminal case, extended the rights of persons
accused of crime, established equal voting rights, and resolved a disputed presidential election.
Web link: U.S. Supreme Court: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
Web Links:
http://www.ohiobar.org/conres/pamphlets/article.asp?ID=5 OSBA’s LawFacts pamphlet:
“Ohio’s Courts”
http://www.ohiobar.org/conres/lawyoucanuse/article.asp?ID=46 OSBA’s Law You Can Use
column: “What Is a Drug Court?”
http://www.nolo.com/research/index.html Nolo’s Web site: Federal and state court cases
15
http://www.ncsconline.org National Center for State Courts’ portal to state and federal courts
http://oyez.northwestern.edu/ Northwestern University’s Oyez Project—oral arguments of the
U.S. Supreme Court
http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/judicial_administration.html Cornell Law School Legal
Information Institute Web site on judicial administration
16
FEDERAL TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURTS SERVING OHIO
Court /
Divisions
Location
Phone
U.S. District Court
for the Southern
District of Ohio
Web site/
e-mail address
www.ohsd.uscourts.gov
EASTERN
DIVISION
(Columbus)
U.S. Courthouse, Rm.260 (614) 719-3000
85 Marconi Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43215
ohsd.colinfo@
ohsd.uscourts.gov
WESTERN
DIVISION
(Cincinnati)
U.S. Courthouse, Rm. 324 (513) 564-7500
100 East Fifth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
ohsd.cininfo@
ohsd.uscourts.gov
(Dayton)
Federal Building, Rm.712 (937) 512-1400
200 West Second Street
Dayton, OH 45402
ohsd_dayinfo@
ohsd.uscourts.gov
U.S. District Court
for the Northern
District of Ohio
www.ohnd.uscourts.gov
U.S. Courthouse, Rm.300 (216) 357-7000
801 W. Superior Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
www.ohnd.uscourts.gov
www.ohnd.uscourts.gov
WESTERN
DIVISION
(Toledo)
U.S. Courthouse, Rm.568 (330) 375-5705
Two South Main Street
Akron, OH 44308
U.S. Courthouse, Rm. 337 (330) 746-1906
125 Market Street
Youngstown, OH 44503
U.S. Courthouse, Rm.114 (419) 259-6412
1716 Spielbusch Avenue
Toledo, OH 43624
U.S. Court of
Appeals
for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Courthouse, Rm. 532 (513) 564-7000
100 East Fifth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
EASTERN
DIVISION
(Cleveland)
(Akron)
(Youngstown)
17
www.ohnd.uscourts.gov
Counties Served
Total of 48 counties; see
breakdown below. (NOTE:
Cases are generally, but not
always, assigned by county of
origin.)
Athens, Belmont, Coshocton,
Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette,
Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey,
Harrison, Hocking, Jackson,
Jefferson, Knox, Licking,
Logan, Madison, Meigs,
Monroe, Morgan, Morrow,
Muskingum, Noble, Perry,
Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Union,
Vinton, Washington
Adams, Brown, Butler,
Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton,
Highland, Lawrence, Scioto,
Warren
Champaign, Clark, Darke,
Greene, Miami, Montgomery,
Preble, Shelby
Total of 40 counties, see
breakdown below. (NOTE:
Cases are generally, but not
always, assigned by county of
origin.)
Ashland, Ashtabula,
Crawford, Cuyahoga, Geauga,
Lake, Lorain, Medina,
Richland
Carroll, Holmes, Portage,
Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas,
Wayne
Columbiana, Mahoning,
Trumbull
www.ohnd.uscourts.gov
Allen, Auglaize, Defiance,
Erie, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin,
Henry, Huron, Lucas, Marion,
Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding
Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca,
Van Wert, Williams, Wood,
Wyandot.
www.ca6.uscourts.gov
Hears federal appeals from the
District Courts in Ohio,
Michigan, Kentucky and
Tennessee
OHIO DISTRICT COURTS OF APPEALS
District
Address
Phone/Fax
County(ies) Served
1st District
Court Administrator
230 East Ninth St., 12th Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone (513) 946-3500
Fax (513) 946-3412
Hamilton County
2nd District
Court Administrator
41 N. Perry, P.O. Box 972
Dayton, OH 45422
Phone (937) 225-4464
Fax (937) 496-7724
Champaign, Clark, Darke,
Greene, Miami and Montgomery
Counties
3rd District
Court Administrator
P.O. Box 1243
Lima, OH 45802
Phone (419) 223-1861
Fax (419) 224-3828
Allen, Auglaize, Crawford, Defiance,
Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Logan,
Marion, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam,
Seneca, Shelby, Union, Van Wert and
Wyandot Counties
4th District
Court Administrator
121-A West Franklin Street
Circleville, OH 43113
Phone (740) 474-7841
Fax (740) 474-6870
Adams, Athens, Gallia, Highland,
Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs,
Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton
and Washington Counties
5th District
Court Administrator
110 Central Plaza S. #320
Canton, OH 44702-14111
Phone (330) 451-7765
Fax (330) 451-7249
Ashland, Coshocton, Delaware,
Fairfield, Guernsey, Holmes, Knox,
Licking, Morgan, Morrow,
Muskingum, Perry, Richland, Stark
and Tuscarawas Counties
6th District
Court Administrator
800 Jackson Street
Toledo, OH 43624-1605
Phone (419) 213-4755
Fax (419) 213-4844
Erie, Fulton, Huron, Lucas,
Ottawa, Sandusky, Williams and
Wood Counties
7th District
Court Administrator
Mahoning County Courthouse
Youngstown, OH 44503-1710
Phone (330) 740-2180
Fax (330) 740-2182
Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana,
Harrison, Jefferson, Mahoning,
Monroe & Noble Counties
8th District
Court Administrator
Cuyahoga County Courthouse
1 Lakeside Avenue #202
Cleveland, OH 44113-1085
Phone (216) 443-6350
Fax (216) 443-2044
Cuyahoga County
9th District
Court Administrator
161 South High Street, #504
Akron, OH 44308-1602
Phone (330) 643-2250
Fax (330) 643-2091
Lorain, Medina, Summit and
Wayne Counties
10th District
Court Administrator
373 South High Street
24th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-4578
Phone (614) 462-3580
Fax (614) 462-7249
Franklin County
11th District
Court Administrator
111 High Street, NE
Warren, OH 44481
Phone (330) 675-2650
Fax (330) 675-2655
Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Portage
and Trumbull Counties
12th District
Court Administrator
P.O. Box 1009
Middletown, OH 45042-1901
Phone (513) 425-6609
Fax (513) 425-8751
Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton,
Fayette, Madison, Preble and
Warren Counties
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